Adjustable crutch.



G. S. RHODES.

ADJUSTABLE GRUTGH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27, 1908.

909,224. 4 Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

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ADJUSTABLE CRUTGH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21. 1908.

Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

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AD JUSTABLE CEUTCH.

No. 909,224. Specification oi Application filed. March 27,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUY S. Encore, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fremont, in the county of Sandusky, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Crutches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full. clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invent on has reference to crutches. and it aims, generally, to provide an exceedingly simple and effective device of that nature which is adjustable in point of length to permit its use by persons of different heights, and in which. the hand hold is likewise adjustable, to adapt the crutch to the reach or a fin length of the user. I

The invention further resides in the provision of an adjustable crutch, in which the legs of the members thereof, taper reversely with respect to each other so as to give the crutch as a whole, a more symmetrical and finished appearance.

lVith the above and other ends in view, the invention consists in the particular construction. combination, and arrangement of arts, all as hereinafter fully described, specifically claimed, and illustrated in the ac companying drawings, in which similar parts or features, as the case may be, are designated by corresponding reference numerals in the several views.

Of the said drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation. of the improved crutch. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 8 is an ensection take transversely through 1, on the line 3-3. Fig. 4 is a frag mental detail view showing the reverse taper of the legs of the crutch members. 5 is a tran verse section on the line 55 of 1. Fig. 6 is a fraginental perspective view of one of the legs of the lower member of the crutch, showing the groove formed therein. Fig. 7 is a transverse sect-ion on the line 'l The crutch, as illustrated in the drawings, comprises a pair of members 1 and 2, slidably engaged with each other, the upper or inner member 1 having its legs a connected at their upper ends by an arm rest of any preferred t pe, while the lower or outer member 2 is approximately 1r -shape, the legs 6 of the last mentioned member branch- Letters Patent.

1908. Seria1 No. 423,599.

ing from the stock portion 7 of the crutch, to the lower end of which portion, a cushion 8 of rubber or other yielding material is secured.

The legs of both members of the crutch are provided with a longitudinal series of perforations 9, which are formed horizontally therethrough at regularly recurring intervals, the perforations in the legs of one member alining with each other and registering with those in the adjacent legs of the other member. To effect a closer fit between the legs of said members and, in consequence, a quicker and easier engagement of the fastening devices hereinafter referred to therewith, the legs of the member 2 have their inner faces provided with longitudinal grooves 10, which receive the adjacent faces of the legs of the other member, as shown in Fig. 6. By reason of this construction, it will be apparent that the members of the crutch are, to a certain extent, telescopically connected with each other, inasmuch as one member slides within the other member, and fits within the grooves formed therein.

in order to further the symmetrical app sarance of the crutch, and to give the legs t iereof, as a whole, a virtually constant t.

Patented Jan. 12, 1909.

hickness, the legs of one member taper re- :ersely to those of the other member, as shown in Fig. at, the thickness of the legs of the member 2 being greatest at the lower ends thereof, while those of the member 1 are thickest at their upper ends.

The two members of the crutch are re tained in adjusted position with respect to each other by means of upper and lower pairs of bolts 11, interchangeably engaged in the registering perforations of the mutually-adjacent legs and provided at their inner ends with heads, the outer ends of the bolts projecting beyond the legs of the outer crutch member and being threaded at such point for engagement with wing nuts 12. These bolts, as shown in Fig. 7, preferably extend through the perforations at the free ends of the legs a and 6, and through the opposite perforations in the adjacent legs, the series of perforations and the grooves 10 extending from end to end of the legs of the members so as to afford the greatest adjustment possible.

The upper member of the crutch carries a hand hold 18 whose opposite ends are socketed for the reception of the inner ends of an additional pair of bolts 14, whose outer ends extend through the perforations in the legs of both members and are threaded at such point for engagement With Wing nuts 15. It is therefore possible to effect an independent adjustment of the hand hold, so as to adapt the crutch exactly to the reach or length of arm of the user.

I am aware that it has been proposed to manufacture crutches consisting of a pair of adjustably connected members, the upper of which, carries a hand hold, but in every instance, the hand hold is rigidly secured to said member, and is therefore capable of no adjustment. In this respect, my invention is radically different from such devices, and possesses a distinct advantage thereover, inasmuch as it is possible to adjust the hand hold Without necessitating any alteration in the length of the crutch, so as to adapt it exactly to the length of arm of the user, Whereas in the above mentioned instances, a crutch is frequently open to the defect that,

While it is suited to the particular users height, the position of the hand hold may be by no means suited to his length of arm.

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustable crutch, comprising a pair of sliding members, the legs of one member tapering reversely to the adjacent legs of the other member, and means for holding said members in adjusted position.

2. A crutch comprising a pair of members slidably engaged with each other, one of said members having its legs grooved to receive the legs of the other member, the legs of one member tapering reversely to those of the other member, and means for holding said members in adjusted position.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signa ture, in presence of two Witnesses.

GUY S. RHODES.

Witnesses BYRON W. GRovER, BYRON A. FOUCHE. 

